May 06, 2022| Community, Events
By: Caitlin Doran
Last year, you visited all 150 vendors, sampled the food trucks, enjoyed a free ride aboard Miss Lotta, and rode the trackless train. You got your passport stamped, maybe even won a Passport Adventure prize, and your kids found all the Scavenger Hunt stops (followed by a well-deserved free ice cream cone at Cliff’s!). You tried your luck in the 50/50 raffle, hung out with R2D2 and Darth Vader, and clapped along to An Clar Irish Dance. And before you left, you took in the remote model airplane demos and the beautiful birds of PJ’s raptor show.
Looking back, last year’s Block Party was truly awesome. So, we “declared victory” after 2021 and decided we’d do everything just the same and not add anything new or different in 2022.
Yeah, right…
Of course we’ve made improvements to the Block Party, and we’ve added even more fun activities and entertainment to complement the great list of vendors – many of which are new to the event themselves! Here’s what’s fresh and on tap this year:
Bridge Marina will be supplying the pontoon boat and our friend Larry Orlans from the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be supplying the experience and know-how, as we walk families through properly and safely enjoying their time on a boat in this interactive demonstration.
At noon, The Knee Deep Fishing Club of Lake Hopatcong will present a casting demonstration of freshwater fishing rods and reels frequently used while fishing the beautiful waters of Lake Hopatcong.
Row New Jersey will be bringing a crewing skull to the Block Party, and you can row with the team and experience the sport first-hand.
Don’t go to NJMVC; let NJMVC come to you! They will be on hand to provide two services: re-registering boats and adding the boating endorsement to your driver’s license
Meet JoAnn Gemenden, executive director of the statewide New Jersey Clean Communities program, who is coming to Lake Hopatcong to talk about the BAG UP NJ campaign.
The talented students from the Academy for Performing Arts of Morris County Vocational School District will be performing for us on May 21, and you won’t want to miss it!
The Merry Musicians will be joining the children’s activities this year, adding a very special egg shaker parade to the day’s activities, which is sure to be lots of fun for the little ones!
Animal Care Centers will be awarding prizes for the best pet costume at the Block Party, so start crafting your costumes now! There will also be interactive and informational activities at the "Canine Crew" booth, like trivia, “Ask a Vet” and “Ask a Vet Tech”.
Zumba involves dance and aerobic movements performed to energetic music. Let Kelley lead the way and get ready to have some fun while working out!
Be on the lookout for bards, minstrels, merry-makers, and members of the king’s court at this year’s Block Party!
You told us “More children’s activities, please!” and we listened. In addition to the children’s activity table and Scavenger hunt, we’re adding more games for kids this year, which can be found scattered throughout the Block Party, at designated vendors’ tables. These games include the Frog Fly Fling, oversized Operation (don’t touch the sides!), Tic Tac Toss, and the Mini Train Striker.
We truly can’t wait to introduce all these new activities this year, and we hope you’re checking the Block Party page for all the details as we get closer and closer to May 21. Every booth and activity has a story – go discover it!
